Empowering Minds: Education and Schools in Our Community
The Westside has some of the strongest public school districts in California and one of the deepest concentrations of independent and university preparatory schools in the country. Higher education is anchored by UCLA in Westwood, with USC and several other universities within easy driving distance. For families relocating to the area, the school decision is often the central factor in choosing a neighborhood.
Public School Districts
Beverly Hills Unified School District A small district serving residents of Beverly Hills. Includes four K-8 schools, including Hawthorne, Beverly Vista, El Rodeo, and Horace Mann, and Beverly Hills High School. Known for strong academics, advanced offerings, and well-funded extracurriculars. Tightly enrollment-controlled with proof-of-residency required.
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Serves both cities. Includes Santa Monica High School, Malibu High School, and several elementary and middle schools. Performance ranks among the strongest in California, with strong arts and athletics programs.
Los Angeles Unified School District (Westside neighborhoods) LAUSD covers Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, West LA, Bel Air, Mar Vista, Venice, and parts of Culver City. Performance varies by school, but several LAUSD Westside schools are among the top-performing in the district. Notable schools include:
- Warner Avenue Elementary, Westwood
- Roscomare Road Elementary, Bel Air
- Marquez Charter Elementary, Pacific Palisades
- Palisades Charter High School, Pacific Palisades
- University High School Charter, West LA
Culver City Unified School District Smaller district covering Culver City. Strong reputation for diversity and program depth.
Top Independent and Private Schools
The Westside hosts many of California's most established independent schools:
- Harvard-Westlake School, Studio City and Holmby Hills: secondary school, widely considered the top-ranked private school in California
- Brentwood School, Brentwood: K-12 with a strong college preparatory program
- Marlborough School, Hancock Park: all-girls 7-12
- Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, Santa Monica: K-12 with progressive academics
- Curtis School, Bel Air: K-6 day school
- John Thomas Dye School, Bel Air: K-6 day school
- Wildwood School, West LA: K-12
- Westside Neighborhood School, Mar Vista
- Mirman School for gifted students, Bel Air
- The Willows Community School, Culver City
- Stephen S. Wise Elementary and Milken Community School (Jewish day schools)
- Carlthorp School, Santa Monica
Universities and Colleges
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Westwood: the centerpiece of higher education on the Westside, with the David Geffen School of Medicine, the Anderson School of Management, the School of Law, and broad graduate and undergraduate programs
- University of Southern California (USC), 30 minutes east
- Loyola Marymount University (LMU), 15 to 20 minutes south in Westchester
- Pepperdine University, Malibu
- Santa Monica College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and a strong transfer pipeline to UCLA
- Otis College of Art and Design
Practical Notes for Families
- The Beverly Hills Unified School District requires residency, and the district verifies through documentation. Renting an address solely for school enrollment is not viable.
- Top private schools are highly competitive. Application timelines typically begin a year in advance, with kindergarten and 7th grade as the largest entry points.
- LAUSD allows inter-district transfers in certain cases. Many Westside families use a mix of public and private options.
- Several private schools offer financial aid programs and sliding tuition based on family income.
For a relocating physician with school-age children, school selection often anchors the choice of neighborhood. Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Pacific Palisades are the most school-driven Westside neighborhoods.
